Democratic DCCC will stick with lobbyist money, tyvm

DCCC and DSCC won’t follow Obama’s lead and will take money from lobbyists

Unlike the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Democratic congressional committees will continue to take money from lobbyists.

Obama on Thursday instituted the new anti-lobbyist money policy at the DNC now that he has clinched the Democratic presidential nomination. From the start of his campaign, Obama refused to take money from lobbyists.

Both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) stressed that they would abide by the strict ethics rules passed through the Democratic-led Congress.

ISRAELIS NOT IMPRESSED BY OBAMA’S MESSAGE TO AIPAC

Israel will attack Iran if it doesn’t abandon its nuclear program; a Cabinet minister hoping to replace embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted Friday as saying.

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz also said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “will disappear before Israel does,” the Yediot Ahronot daily reported. Ahmadinejad has called repeatedly for Israel’s destruction.

Mofaz’s spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the remarks, which were much more explicit than anything Olmert himself has said. Olmert has gone no further than hinting that Israel was prepared to use force against Iranian nuclear facilities, saying only Tuesday that “the Iranian threat must be stopped by all means. “

According to the newspaper report, Mofaz _ a former chief of staff and defense minister _ has concluded that international sanctions haven’t curbed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. http://www.townhall.com/news/world/2008/06/06/israel_may_attack_over_irans_nuclear_program

Medicaid Money Laundering -WSJ

May 19, 2008; Page A14

Every politician moans that entitlement spending is out of control, so it ought to be easy at least to stop blatant fraud and abuse. Evidently not: Congress is currently resisting an attempt to rein in even a Big Con that everyone acknowledges.

The scene of this crime is Medicaid, the open-ended program that provides health coverage for about 59 million low-income people, with the rolls expanding every year. States determine eligibility and what services to cover, and the feds pick up at least half the tab, though the effective “matching rate” is as high as 83%. Now it turns out that states have been goosing their financing arrangements to maximize their federal payouts and dump more of their costs onto taxpayers nationwide.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121115735476802403.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

1 June 6 2008 blog

Some LIBERAL BLOGs thrilled with idea of Israel’s destruction.

Remember Obama’s speech to AIPAC, the Jewish Lobby?

He pledged to protect Israel and blah blah blah – I was reading some liberal blogs yesterday and they are giddy with the idea of Israel’s destruction now that Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee. So I guess they are full aware of the liberal agenda and don’t mind posting it all over the Internet. I’ll have to look in on their blogs more often!

I give them credit for being more “up front.”

Obama to heal the planet? Is he running for president or for messiah?

I listened to his victory speech again. The guy who claims to be humble sounds like a narcissist to me… does Obama’s idol fans ever listen to his words??

You can’t eat all you want because other countries won’t like it. While Obama is enjoying arugula you might have to dine on bread and water… Don’t go for money and good suits he says – go for service not ambition. (don’t run for President?)

Working class – you lose out again. You’re not worthy of his lofty goals. Scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, politicians, – you don’t count in Obama’s world of service. Remember – Obama had one full year experience in the US Senate before he ran for president.

And

“We’re going to change the way Washington works…” But Emil Jones will still get his steak and convicted Chicago fraudsters are not Washington lobbyists.

Money from bundlers, spouses, former and future lobbyists is OK and desired.

Today, at a health care event in Bristol, Virginia, Barack Obama announced that the Democratic National Committee would not accept money from “Washington lobbyists.” Saying that “we’re going to change the way Washington works,” Obama added that lobbyists would not “fund my party.”

Lawyer speak, “ I won’t accept money from lobbyists but I will accept money from their spouses, relatives, and employees. I will accept favor from Chicago fraudsters, if I need a house I can’t afford, but don’t bother me with accusations. I won’t stand for being tied to my left wing social beginnings with my church and radical friends.

Rezko, among other things does not qualify as a Washington lobbyist. He was known as the “Fixer” and that’s different.

Good stuff on Jim Geraghty’s Campaign Spot today including another reference to that Michelle tape. National Review Online

Strickland: If Obama does pick Strickland, attempting to secure the Buckeye state, expect to see the RNC showcasing this comment from the governor not too long ago:

Strickland Suggested Obama Was More Suited For American Idol. “…Ohioans should vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton because the March 4 primary is not about selecting the ‘next American idol,’ Strickland told reporters in Washington today, where he is attending the National Governors Association winter meeting.” (Jonathan Riskind, “Strickland: Pick a President, Not an American Idol,” Columbus Dispatch, 2/25/08)

and

Novel from 2006 resembles rumors on Michelle tape: http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Mzc3ZWNhNThmM2JhMzliZDUxMWNmMmU5M2ZiNmM1YTY=

Actually, it sounds exactly like something out of a clichéd political thriller novel. Specifically, Stephen Frey’s The Power Broker, published in 2006 by Ballantine Books.

A major plot line of the novel is the presidential campaign of Democrat Jesse Wood, aiming to be the country’s first African American president — “Wood was handsome, smart, charismatic, and being mentioned increasingly often in the press as someone who could unite a twenty-first century America growing more, not less, racially and economically divided.” (p.35)

Check it out Amazon.com.

While Pelosi played politics…

CANADA did the right thing in Columbian trade deal!!

While the presidential candidates pander, Canada and Columbia do a deal. The same deal would have lifted tariffs the US pays and would have brought in a good chunk of change for the US –but Pelosi, Congress, and presidential candidates went on a power trip instead and  shelved  the  Columbian  Trade  Deal.

Columbia bought $6.7 billion in American goods in 2006. Now they can buy from Canada. Colombia could easily substitute the goods it buys from the U.S. with those that it could get tariff-free from Canada.

Canada Eats Our Trade Lunch

By INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Thursday, June 05, 2008 4:20 PM PT

Competitiveness: As Congress gloats over its denial of free trade to Colombia, Canada has moved on a free-trade pact of its own that will take U.S. markets. http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=297559097183066

Congressional Democrats often speak of restoring U.S. influence in the world. But if they think halting free trade with Colombia will do the trick, they’ll be surprised to know that the country whose influence they are extending is our northern neighbor.

As the proposed U.S.-Colombian trade agreement languishes into its fifth year, Canada is rushing to pass its own pact with the up-and-coming South American nation. And hot on Canada’s heels are Russia and the European Union, which also have no intention of blowing an opportunity.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has its deal nearly done, and parliament will pull no monkeyshines to gum it up. In fact, it may sign off this week, months ahead of its September target, after watching House Speaker Nancy Pelosi derail the U.S. treaty.

“We have to laud the Canadians for their recognition of self-interest,” said John Murphy, vice president for international affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The question is: Why can’t we do the same?”